Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Blog Tour Interview with Giveaway: Fragments of Ash (A Modern Fairytale #7) by Katy Regnery


Book info:
Title: Fragments of Ash
Author:  Katy Regnery
SeriesA Modern Fairytale #7
Publication date: October 1st, 2018
Genres: Fairy Tales, Romance
Synopsis:
From New York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery comes a dark and twisted retelling of the beloved fairytale, Cinderella!
My name is Ashley Ellis…
I was thirteen years old when my mother – retired supermodel, Tig – married Mosier Răumann, who was twice her age and the head of the Răumann crime family.
When I turned eighteen, my mother mysteriously died. Only then did I discover the dark plans my stepfather had in store for me all along; the debauched “work” he expected me to do.
With the help of my godfather, Gus, I have escaped from Mosier’s clutches, but his twin sons and henchmen have been tasked with hunting me down. And they will stop at nothing to return my virgin body to their father
…dead or alive.
** Contemporary Romance. Due to profanity and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.**
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Fragments of Ash is part of the ~a modern fairytale~ collection: contemporary, standalone romances inspired by beloved fairy tales.
The Vixen and the Vet (Beauty and the Beast) – available now
Never Let You Go (Hansel and Gretel) – available now
Ginger’s Heart (Little Red Riding Hood) – available now
Dark Sexy Knight (Camelot) – available now
Don’t Speak (The Little Mermaid) – available now
Sheer Heaven (Rapunzel) – available now
Fragments of Ash (Cinderella) – coming October 1, 2018
Swan Song (The Ugly Duckling) – coming soon

Author Interview:
1.  What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start?  Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?  
 I start conceptualizing a story a year in advance, but I don’t start outlining until I have finished all previous projects. Once I’m ready, I do a thorough and detailed outline of the first half of the novel, followed by a loose outline of the second half. This is because the characters often change as I’m writing, and I like to accommodate those surprises. So, when I start, I have a 3-4 page character background on my main characters, a timeline of major events before they meet and during the story, and a good 6-10 page outline of the first half of the novel. Then I’m ready to go!
2. Do you edit as you go, or wait till you're finished before you edit?  How many times would you say you go over it yourself before having another set of eyes look it over? 
Ha! Great question!
I read once that most authors write a first draft, then second, third, fourth, etc. Then we put it away and play with it some more, filling it in, massaging the plot, perfecting it. They send it away to beta readers before a developmental, copy and line edit, and then to proofreaders too. By the time it gets to market, there have probably been twenty (or more!) sets of eyes on the novel.
That is not my way. I write about 3,000 words a day. The following day, I go back and perfect those 3,000 words, and add another 3,000. The following day, I go back and perfect the preceding 4,500 words, and add another 3,000. Once I have about 50,000 words, I take a full weekend and do a read-through, making certain that the first half of the book is tight and pleasing. Then I tackle the second half 3,000 words at a time.
When I type “The End,” my book is probably 90% finished. I do go back to add some color, and after an edit, I make some changes and give it a polish.
But I find a day-to-day edit the best way to stay on top of the story and maintain a deep intimacy with my characters. I have one developmental edit. I have one copy and line edit. And then my book is made into an ARC. When my ARC-readers receive it, it’s only been seen by me and two editors. That’s it.
3.  Are you part of a writers group that gets together and helps each other with their writing?
Sort of. My best friend, Mia Sheridan, and I talk every day on the phone. We keep track of each other’s WIP (work in progress), give advice when needed, and cheer each other on. I don’t share my writing with anyone like I do with Mia, but she’s become a treasure to me. 
4.  How do you come up with your ideas for your stories?
Oh, goodness—in the strangest places. In the shower. In the car. Those are my favorite two places to think. Sometimes I’ll dream a new plotline and wake up in the morning to take notes. Sometimes I see a movie or read a book but imagine how I wish the story would have ended. Often a whole new story will start forming in my head. I guess I come up with my ideas everywhere, all the time.
5.  Since you are writing fairy tale retellings, if you had to pick a favorite fairy tale, which would you pick?  Which character in a fairy tale do you feel is most like yourself? 
Hmm. Well, I’m strong-willed like Merida in Brave. I’m idealistic like Anna in Frozen. I sing to my pets like Cinderella. I like a nice long sleep like Aurora. I love my books, like Belle…and I have long, thick hair like Rapunzel. Lord, I think I’m a little bit of everyone!
6.   What are your favorite:
Genres/Authors
One of my favorite genres is Historical Romance! I love LaVyrle Spencer, Lisa Kleypas, Bertrice Small, and Judith McNaught. I also love Short Story collections; especially at Christmastime!
TV Shows
I am a total TV junkie. You name it, I’ve probably watched it. But among my recent favorites? Outlander, Vikings, The Affair, Game of Thrones, Ozark, The Queen, Harlots, Castle Rock, Poldark (really, anything from Masterpiece Theater!), I’m Dying Up Here, Black Sails, Black Mirror, Succession, Stranger Things, American Horror Story, American Crime Story and Married at First Sight.
One of my all-time favorites was Deadwood. I still miss that one hard. And Downton Abbey. I loved that one too.
Food/Writing snack
I keep pretzel rods and dark chocolate almonds in my office, so I guess those are my standard writing snacks. (My dogs LOVE the pretzel sticks, so they’re more for them than for me, I think!) In the AM, I like coffee. In the PM, I prefer wine.
 

Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.
Forty books later, Katy claims authorship of the multititled New York Times and USA Today bestselling Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other stand-alone novels and novellas, including the critically-acclaimed, 2018 RITA© nominated, USA Today bestselling contemporary romance, Unloved, a love story.
Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, became a New York Times e-book bestseller.
Katy’s books are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.
Sign up for Katy’s newsletter today: www.katyregnery.com!

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